Peter Vila, MD

Please join us in welcoming Sydney to Portland Face Doctor!

We’re excited to introduce our newest team member! She's joining us as our new Medical Assistant, helping support our busy clinical schedule.

A Portland native and Lincoln High School graduate, Sydney joins us after earning her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Sydney loves hiking, mountaineering, backpacking, and pretty much all things PNW outdoors. In the winter, she enjoys skiing and snowboarding, and she’s so happy to be back in town and closer to her favorite activities!

In just her first few weeks, Sydney has already been an incredible presence on our team. We’re so excited to have her on board and can’t wait for you all to get to know her!

Healing ≠ recovery ≠ final results.

After a facelift, sutures around the ears typically stay in for about one week. Once they're removed, the incisions may be closed, but they are not fully healed. Don’t confuse “closed” with “healed.” Take it slow and give your body time to heal for the best possible result.

🌊 Swimming after surgery:

Avoid swimming or submerging your incisions in pools, rivers, or lakes for at least one month. The incisions are still healing and can be vulnerable to bacteria and infection. Showering and gently cleaning your incisions is fine, but give them time to fully heal before getting back in the water.

✈️ Flying after surgery:

I recommend waiting at least 10 days before flying, especially for a major trip. Facelift and rhinoplasty recovery can involve swelling, bruising, or even bleeding, and it’s important to stay close to your surgeon in case any concerns or complications arise.

💪 Working out after surgery:

For the first 2 weeks, stick to light walking and gentle movement with no lifting or straining. After 2 weeks, gradually increase activity and pay attention to how you feel. Around 1 month, most patients can return to the gym and resume more normal activity. Rushing this process can prolong swelling, stress healing tissues, and potentially affect your final results.

⚠️ Don't let the swelling fool you:

Especially after a facelift, swelling can temporarily make your results look better than they will once everything completely settles. If fine lines appear softened or gone without an additional skin treatment, like a laser, that’s likely the edema (the swelling), not the facelift itself. Be patient and give your body time to heal before judging your final results.

➡️ Keep an eye out for part 3 of the recovery series, where I’ll cover additional information on swelling, potential nerve injuries, and numbness after surgery.

Get to know the PFD team: The Emoji Edition 💉

Who did it best?

Let's break down the recovery process

A question I hear often is, "What can I expect during recovery?" While every procedure is unique, the body follows similar stages of healing as it adjusts and recovers, even when multiple procedures are performed together.

Recovery Timeline:

⏰ 2 Weeks:
Swelling and bruising are expected. Most patients feel comfortable returning to public activities, with light makeup or tinted sunscreen helping cover any remaining discoloration.

⏰ 1 Month:
Swelling is still present, but your results are beginning to take shape as everything settles.

⏰ 3-4 Months:
Most swelling has resolved, and you are feeling comfortable with your results.

⏰ 6 Months:
Your results look very natural, and surgery is typically undetectable to others.

⏰ 1 Year:
Healing is complete, tissues are fully settled, and you can enjoy your final results.

Timeline Exceptions:

Revision rhinoplasty often has the longest recovery timeline, as the nose can continue to experience subtle swelling and changes for years.

Laser treatments follow a different timeline since they are not technically surgery. After an ablative laser, the first week is the most intense, followed by mild pinkness as the skin heals. Results typically settle much faster than facial surgery, especially with proper skin preparation beforehand.

⚠️ Things to avoid during recovery: A high-sodium diet can prolong swelling by increasing water retention, so I recommend focusing on simple, whole foods during the first few weeks to support healing. Sun protection is also essential, as UV exposure can cause healing incisions and redness to darken through hyperpigmentation. Avoid direct sun when possible and be consistent with SPF, especially when protecting incision sites.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the recovery series, where I’ll be discussing the differences between healing, recovery, and final results.

Choosing a surgeon is about more than just results.

Of course, the surgeon is the fundamental piece of the puzzle. It's also about the entire practice experience and the team who will support you throughout your journey.

From your first phone call to walking through the doors of the office, pay attention to how you feel. Do the staff make you feel welcomed, comfortable, and confident in your decision? A team that is excited to be there, values their work, and respects their surgeon can make a meaningful difference throughout your experience and recovery.

While results are an important factor, choosing a surgeon based solely on before and after photos is not something we would recommend. The way you feel during your consultations, how your questions are answered, and whether you feel heard and understood are just as important. If something feels off, that is valuable information to consider.

It is also important to have realistic expectations about what surgery can achieve. You may find a surgeon online whose results you love, but every patient is different. Your anatomy plays a major role in your outcome, and even the most skilled surgeon has limitations based on your unique features.

Be clear about what you want. Bring examples of results you love, explain your goals, and make sure you and your surgeon are aligned. While your surgeon can guide you with their expertise, they simply cannot know every detail of your ideal outcome unless you communicate it.

Ultimately, trust your instincts. Do you feel comfortable with your surgeon? Do you feel cared for by the staff? Does the practice feel like a place you want to return to throughout your recovery?

Surgery is a process, and you should feel confident, supported, and excited about the team you have chosen to guide you through it.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

There is an entire industry of neck creams and devices to address neck laxity that just aren't going to deliver the results that you're looking for. The reason all of these things tout their "facelift-like" results, is because there's nothing better than a face and neck lift to improve neck laxity.

If you want to see real examples of what a deep plane face and neck lift can do for the neck, follow Peter Vila, MD | Portland Face Doctor to see what natural and impactful can look like, and toss that neck tightening cream in the trash.

Can you trust your surgeon to perform your facelift or rhinoplasty?

Surgery is a relatively short event, but recovery is a much longer journey.

As you're evaluating your options, it's important to choose a surgeon you feel comfortable with and can actually trust. You'll likely spend more time with your surgeon than you might expect, from your consultation and procedure to multiple follow up visits throughout your recovery.

Recovery is a vulnerable time, and while bumps in the road can happen, it can be incredibly reassuring to know you've chosen a surgeon with the experience to manage them, someone who genuinely cares about your outcome and is committed to guiding you every step of the way until you've fully recovered and reached your goals.

Take the time to explore everything you can, including their website, Instagram, YouTube, patient reviews, and before and after galleries. Together, these resources can give you a clear picture of their experience, consistency, and whether their results align with your goals.

One of the biggest advantages patients have today is transparency. With online reviews, educational content, and social media, it's easier than ever to learn about a surgeon before ever stepping into the office.

I also encourage patients to bring photos of results they love to their consultation. Show your surgeon what you're hoping to achieve and compare those examples to their own body of work. That conversation can quickly tell you whether your expectations and their surgical style are a good match.

Finally, pay attention to how recent the results are. Surgical techniques evolve, and a surgeon's current work is the best reflection of what they can consistently deliver today. Don't be afraid to ask to see recent cases from the last several months or years so you can feel confident in the results they're producing now.

➡️ Keep an eye out for Part 2, where I'll cover even more important factors to consider before choosing your surgeon.

Visit portlandfacedoctor.com to schedule a consultation, and let's make sure you have all the information you need to make a confident, informed decision.